UNDER NAZI RULE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23896, 25 August 1939, Page 4

UNDER NAZI RULE

CZECH MINING ENGINEER FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES THANKFUL TO LEAVE COUNTRY (Special to Daily Times) • AUCKLAND, Aug. 24. The frightening experiences with the Gestapo, the German secret police; because of political associations, were recounted by a G£sch mining engineer, ,Mr A., Steiner, when he arrived with his wife and two children by the Rangitane from London to live in New Zealand; Mr Steiner, whose mother was Jewish, worked in the coal mines in Sudetenland for a number of years, and was a labour organiser, but: was associated with no political party.. “ I am a pacifist,” Mr Steiner said. “ I used to do my best among my workmates to bring about co-opera-tion and unity between the Czechs and the Germans. I was ’ among those aiming to prevent wa*. I knew my agitations were against the Nazi principles, but I was prepared to cany on until I .had to give up my home in Prague for the safety of my own family; and near relatives.” ■

Hearing of his political. leanings, the Gestapo summoned Mr Steiner to give an explanation. They questioned him on his political work and also regarding a letter which he had received from a Czech labour leader visiting London in which, mere gen? eralities were discussed. Because of this, he was forced to sever any associations he had with- Great Britain, and he had some, he said, and he was compelled to whtch his step very carefully. “I was a member of a German mining association,” continued "Mr Steiner. “The Gestapo made inquiries about me from the officers of this association, and when a favourable report was, received it was accepted and 11/was freed. I had no taste of concentration camps. I am thankful to say, but I had so much trouble with the Gestapo thereafter that I could no longer live under German rule. They demanded information about everything, and I deemed it advisable to go to another country” . - -, 1 " Mr Steiner 1 related how, on one occasion when called before the Gestapo, he was accompanied by his daughter, aged about; eight. He was greeted by an officer with“ We have put aside the- whole day for you. Knives have been sharpened for you. I shall weep for you.” . The conversation horrified my little girl, he said, but she was more afraid when she was separated from him and sent home while! he remained for questioning. A keen student >of English, Mr Steiner has made himself acquainted with phases of the coal mining industry in New Zealand by reading everything he could about It in the Czech University Library, while he had; also regularly read English newsoapers over the. past 10 years. Mr Steiner has no appointment in New Zealand; but intends to settle in Auckland in the meantime.